They're Here: The 7 Major Shoe Trends of Summer 2023

The official start to summer may still be several weeks away, but there's no question that the trends of the season have already arrived. Based on what designers cooked up for the spring/summer 2023 collections, things are looking sleek, sculptural, and ultra-elevated this season, and that's especially true for the major shoes on the menu.

After combing over the runways, my social media feeds, and the market, I've landed on the seven shoe trends that I'm positive will have the biggest effect on style for the season ahead. With sleek wedges inspired by designs from Ferragamo, the floral-appliqué heels by Magda Butrym, and pretty iterations on ballet flats, consider this list your North Star for all things stylish summer footwear. Ahead, dive into the seven major summer shoe trends that will no doubt come to define the season.

Not to freak you out, but wedges are officially coming back from the dead. Thanks to the sleek and refined versions from Ferragamo and Khaite, 2023's wedges are far from the chunky espadrilles we used to know. I'd even go so far as to say that wedges are *the* shoe trend of the moment and one that will define summer.

The longer the ballet-flats trend goes on, the prettier the iterations emerge. The latest among them is ultra-delicate mesh flats. With viral pairs like the Alaïa netted flats and Khaite's crystal-adorned mesh pair, these breathable flats are already all anyone can talk about and shop for.

Sculptural metal embellishments can be found on everything from handbags to shoes right now, but on minimalistic sandals, the trend might be its prettiest (and most wearable) iteration yet. Look for artful metal accents that lend an elevated feel to otherwise simple sandals.

Summer may be the time of year when our styling choices veer toward the simple and minimal, but the wave of brightly colored sneakers bubbling up right now is anything but. From shocking yellow Onitsuka Tiger sneakers to the Adidas Gazelles that come in the prettiest pastels, reaching for a colorful pair of sneakers is the freshest choice you can make right now.

The rosette trend is all anyone can talk about this year, and for summer, the pretty florals are only blooming bigger. Floral-appliqué sandals by the likes of Magda Butrym make such a chic statement for the summer. Reach for them to dress up a simple outfit.

While it's more of a niche detail, there's an undeniable trend happening across flats and heels, and it's all about a glossy patent-leather finish that lends a chic, dressed-up feel to anything.

As we've touched on already, it's the summer of flats, and chief among them are Mary Janes, a fresher take on ballet flats that seems to only be getting better and better by the day. The buckle detail adds just a touch of detail that makes them interesting but so easy to wear with everything from skirts to jeans to dresses.

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